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Southwestern Historical Quarterly

and at ,[illegible] satisfy petitions of numerous relatives and friends ofthe unfortunate Mr. Peterson ask the favor of you to write to SantaAnna, such a letter as you wrote him, in behalf of Mr. John Bradleyand have our young friend set at liberty, and recollect the history ofyourself when a mere boy being taken prisoner, and we feel assuredthat you are prepared to sympathise with us and Mr. Petersons rela-tions, and will aid in the only way in your power to have him re-leased. We know that you have but to say the word and he is freed,and by so doing confer on others among many obligations all readyincurred, for us to appropriate our prayers to allmighty God in yourbehalf. Judge Coleman informs us that he addressed you on the subjectlast fall but did not know whether or not you recd it. In conclusionwe will say that if you were in the place of our friend or any oneelse in whom you felt a great interest there is nothing that you couldask of the undersigned that would not be promptly done. We disliketo have thus to trouble you, knowing the hundreds of calls of thissort made upon your humanity, but our apology is the urgency ofthe case, and assure you that it would afford us pleasure to serve youin any capacity in our power. Mrs. Judge Coleman, the sister ofMr. Peterson [illegible] supposed to be accustomed by her state ofmind, says we must ask this favour of you to acknowledge the receiptof this letter, which we most respectfully do. Please direct to NathlTerry Shoalford Postoffice, Limestone County Alabama. It would bea great source of consolation to Mrs. Coleman and many others toknow that you had recd. this letter and what you thought of theprospects of having him returned, &c. &c.We are Dear Sir your true and real friends.[Signed:] Nathl Terry and twelve other, including C. C. Clay, Jr.Clay added a postscript in a few days:Dear General:Judge Coleman mentioned the case of his brother-in-law,Mr. Peterson, spoken of in the foregoing address, to me some timeago-but, until now, I had for some time past, supposed he had beenreleased. However, it seems otherwise-and feeling satisfied of thetruth of every fact stated, I should be much gratified that you wouldlend the aid requested. By so doing I feel confidently assured youwould serve a meritorious young gentleman, and a most excellent &worthy sister. Most trulyYour friendHuntsville-Feb. 2d, '44. C. C. ClayPeterson was finally released on March 23, 1844, through theintervention of Thompson.[to be continued]